proper
conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous: a very proper young man.
strictly belonging or applicable: the proper place for a stove.
belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
in the strict sense of the word (usually used postpositively): Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper. Is the school within Boston proper or in the suburbs?
Grammar.
(of a name, noun, or adjective) designating a particular person or thing and written in English with an initial capital letter, as Joan, Chicago, Monday, American.
having the force or function of a proper name: a proper adjective.
normal or regular.
belonging to oneself or itself; own.
Chiefly British Informal. complete or thorough: a proper thrashing.
Ecclesiastical. used only on a particular day or festival: the proper introit.
Heraldry. (of a device) depicted in its natural colors: an oak tree proper.
Informal.
excellent; capital; fine.
good-looking or handsome.
Mathematics. (of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.
Archaic. of good character; respectable.
Informal. thoroughly; completely.
Ecclesiastical. a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.
Origin of proper
1Other words for proper
Other words from proper
- prop·er·ly, adverb
- prop·er·ness, noun
- un·prop·er, adjective
Words Nearby proper
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use proper in a sentence
Self-isolation in combination with easily available testing could be an excellent way to tamp down both viruses—according to epidemiologists, proper testing is a big factor in helping us return to relative normality.
The COVID-19 pandemic is about to collide with flu season. Here’s what to expect. | Sara Chodosh | August 26, 2020 | Popular-ScienceYou know, being able to tell right away if there’s irregular activity and report it to the proper authorities, that’s really an important part of the role that we play.
The Economics of Sports Gambling (Ep. 388 Rebroadcast) | Stephen J. Dubner | August 20, 2020 | FreakonomicsOther vaccines bring in a unique, representative piece of the virus—a protein or a polysaccharide—that isn’t harmful, but still inspires the proper immune response.
They will also touch on new forecasting abilities with Google Analytics that have just been launched and proper measurement.
Google and Ignite Visibility to host advanced paid media event you won’t want to miss | Sponsored Content: Ignite Visibility | August 12, 2020 | Search Engine LandBesides, proper implementation of VSM enables the following benefits.
Defining value stream management for SEO business owners | Connie Benton | August 11, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
We need to recover and grow the idea that the proper answer to bad speech is more and better speech.
He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
And so, he says he left prison without proper ID, just his release papers and the “dress-out gear” he was given by the state.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside | Justin Rohrlich | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut those incidents are due to mistakes and leaks, not proper fracking procedures.
A portrait of him was done once in which the collar point was made to sit in its proper place.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe herself had worn them in her youth, and they were the proper bonnets for "growing girls."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsThat it is a reasonable and proper thing to ask our statesmen and politicians: what is going to happen to the world?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) WellsAnd this summer it seemed to her that she never would be able to take proper care of her nestful of children.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileySeen thus poverty became rather a blessing than a curse, or at least a dispensation prescribing the proper lot of man.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockNot only are they required to do things in a proper orderly manner, but people have to treat them with due deference.
Children's Ways | James Sully
British Dictionary definitions for proper
/ (ˈprɒpə) /
(usually prenominal) appropriate or suited for some purpose: in its proper place
correct in behaviour or conduct
excessively correct in conduct; vigorously moral
up to a required or regular standard
(immediately postpositive) (of an object, quality, etc) referred to or named specifically so as to exclude anything not directly connected with it: his claim is connected with the deed proper
(postpositive foll by to) belonging to or characteristic of a person or thing
(prenominal) British informal (intensifier): I felt a proper fool
(usually postpositive) (of heraldic colours) considered correct for the natural colour of the object or emblem depicted: three martlets proper
maths logic (of a relation) distinguished from a weaker relation by excluding the case where the relata are identical. For example, every set is a subset of itself, but a proper subset must exclude at least one member of the containing set: See also strict (def. 6)
archaic pleasant or good
British dialect (intensifier): he's proper stupid
good and proper informal thoroughly: to get drunk good and proper
the parts of the Mass that vary according to the particular day or feast on which the Mass is celebrated: Compare ordinary (def. 10)
Origin of proper
1Derived forms of proper
- properly, adverb
- properness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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